Alcohol a factor in teen crash

JUNEAU (AP) Alcohol was involved in a weekend car crash in Juneau that left three local teenagers hospitalized in Seattle, police said.

The teens have been identified as Ben Reierson,17, Charlotte Rider, 15, and Josh Howard, 18.

Juneau Police Sgt. John Boltjes said the investigation is continuing, but it appears excessive speed and alcohol were factors in the crash. No charges have been filed.

Four teenagers were in the 1990 Toyota Camry when it hit a guardrail and flipped about 1 a.m. Sunday. The 17-year-old driver, Kristie Durand, was treated for minor injuries and released, but the three passengers were flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment. A hospital spokeswoman said Thursday Reierson was in serious condition and Rider and Howard were in satisfactory condition.

Juneau resident Bob Reierson told the Juneau Empire his son was a passenger in the car and told him the teenagers had been drinking.

Ben Reierson is still in the hospital after undergoing seven hours of surgery for a broken pelvic bone and a punctured kidney and bladder, his father said. Bob Reierson said his son probably will be in the hospital another seven weeks, and will be confined to a wheelchair for two months after that.

He's hurting, but they're all going to make it,'' said Reierson.

Howard, who has been living in Juneau for a few months but is from Ketchikan, just came out of surgery for two broken legs and a broken pelvic bone, Reierson said. Reierson said he was told the boy will be in the hospital for another month.

Reierson said he was told Rider had a crack on her pelvic bone, but was scheduled to be out of the hospital Thursday.